JP2001508591A

JP2001508591A - Fuel cell assembly

Info

Publication number: JP2001508591A
Application number: JP53216098A
Authority: JP
Inventors: チェン，タン−ピン
Original assignee: ベクテル・コーポレーション
Priority date: 1997-01-23
Filing date: 1998-01-22
Publication date: 2001-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-22
Also published as: US5851689A; EP1010207A4; EP1010207A1; US6274258B1; JP4285779B2; AU6316998A; WO1998033226A1

Abstract

(57)【要約】燃料電池組立体（２）は、ガス透過性の多孔質ハウジング（１６）を有する容器（４）を備えている。電池（４２）及び相互接続板（４４）を含む燃料電池積重ね体（１４）は多孔質ハウジング内に保持されている。相互接続板の各々は、隣接する電池の陰極（５８）に隣接する酸化剤側（６４）と、その陽極（６２）に隣接する燃料側（６０）とを有している。燃料（６８）は、燃料側の中央領域（８２）と外周（８０）との中間の位置（７８）にて燃料側に供給される。反応生成物（９０）は燃料側の中心から吸引される。排ガス（１００）は酸化剤側の中央（９８）から吸引される。空気は多孔質ハウジングを通って燃料電池積重ね体に流れるときに予熱される。この予熱された空気は、積重ね体の外周から半径方向外方に流れる残留燃料（１１０）を燃焼させ、その空気を積重ね体の作動温度まで更に加熱し、空気の外部からの予熱を全く不要にする。相互接続板における波形部分（６６、６７）は流れ偏向器として機能し、隣接する電池に対する電気的接触面を形成する。燃料電池積重ね体は、水平方向に方向決めされ且つ略自由な方法にて熱的に膨張し且つ収縮することが許容されて、燃料電池積重ね体が作動温度に近くなる迄、電池への損傷を最小にする。 (57) Abstract: A fuel cell assembly (2) includes a container (4) having a gas-permeable porous housing (16). The fuel cell stack (14), including cells (42) and interconnect plates (44), is held in a porous housing. Each of the interconnect plates has an oxidant side (64) adjacent to a cathode (58) of an adjacent cell and a fuel side (60) adjacent to its anode (62). The fuel (68) is supplied to the fuel at a position (78) intermediate the fuel-side central region (82) and the outer periphery (80). The reaction product (90) is sucked from the center on the fuel side. The exhaust gas (100) is sucked from the center (98) on the oxidant side. Air is preheated as it flows through the porous housing to the fuel cell stack. The preheated air combusts residual fuel (110) flowing radially outward from the periphery of the stack and further heats the air to the operating temperature of the stack, eliminating the need for external preheating of the air. I do. The corrugations (66, 67) in the interconnect plate function as flow deflectors and form an electrical contact surface for adjacent cells. The fuel cell stack is horizontally oriented and allowed to thermally expand and contract in a substantially free manner, causing damage to the cell until the fuel cell stack is near operating temperature. Minimize.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】燃料電池組立体発明の背景燃料電池は、典型的に水素である燃料の化学エネルギを連続的な工程にて、直接、電気エネルギに変換する電池である。燃料電池は、種々の燃料及び酸化剤を使用することができるが、これらの燃料電池は、略専ら水素と酸素とを組み合わせて水蒸気を形成する。燃料電池は、燃料と接触した陽極と、酸素に接触した陰極と、陽極及び陰極の間に保持された電解液とを有している。電池の各々は、１ボルト以下の電圧を発生させ、このため、一連の燃料電池又は燃料電池の積層体を使用して、燃料を有用なエネルギに変換する。燃料及び酸素を分離した状態に保ち、また、１つの電池の陽極を隣接する電池の陰極に電気的に接続するために各電池の間に、相互接続板が使用される。水素の１つの供給源は、天然ガスである。天然ガスから水素を得る１つの一般的な方法は、天然ガスと蒸気とを760℃のような高温にて組み合わせて、水素を得るリホーマ装置を使用することである。かかる燃料電池は、別個の外部のリホーマ装置を使用して作動し、水素を発生させる。他の燃料電池は、燃料電池を十分な高温度にて作動させることにより、及びその他の適当な設計上の考慮を行うことにより、リホーマ装置の機能を燃料電池自体に組み合わせる。１つの型式の燃料電池は、1994年、３月22−23日、ジョージア州、アトランタで開催された、燃料電池技術の研究開発に関するＥＰＲＩ／ＧＲＩ燃料電池技術研究会（Fuel Cell Workshop）にて、エム・パトリック（M．Petrik）及びその他の者による、「科学間の半径方向流れ（ＩＲＦ）ＳＯＦＣの積重ね体の開発状況(Stack Development Status of the Interscience Radial Flow（IRF）SOFC) 」において固体酸化物の燃料電池に対して半径方向への流れ形態を使用する１つの設計において、燃料及び空気は、該電池の中央領域にて一対の穴を通じて各電池に供給される。次に、燃料及び空気は、電池の縁部まで半径方向外方に流れる。この流れの形態は、供給箇所にて燃料と空気を分離するためシールを必要とし、また、濃厚な燃料及び濃厚な空気の双方が存在する、電池の中央にて温度が急上昇する虞れを生じる。1996年５月６−10日、ノルウェー、オスロで開催された、第二回欧州燃料電池フォーラムの会議録Vol．１、393−402頁に、エム・プリカ（M．Prica）及びその他の者による「ＳＯＦＣにおける改良された熱機械的性能用の所要形状ＰＥＮ板(Contoured PEN Plates for Improved Thermomechanical Performance in SOFCs)」に開示された別の形態において、燃料及び電気は、一対の針を通じて各電池の中心部に供給される。次に、これらのガスは、電池の縁部まで半径方向に流れる。この流れ形態は、ガスシールを不要にするが、依然として、温度の急上昇に関して問題がある。欧州特許第0,635,896号に開示された、別の形態において、燃料は、供給針によって電池の中心部に供給される一方、空気は、分配ノズルによって陰極の全面積に供給される。使用済みの燃料及び使用済みの空気は、電池の縁部に集められる。この形態は、ガスシールを不要にし、また、温度の急上昇の問題もない。しかしながら、この形態は、複雑なガスノズルの分配装置を必要とする。発明の概要本発明は、ガスシール、大きい軸方向締め付け力、別個のエアヒータ、外部のリホーマ装置、前置リホーマ装置、リホーミングするための外部の蒸気供給源を何ら必要としない、典型的に、固体酸化物の燃料電池組立体である、燃料電池組立体に関する。この組立体は、ガス漏洩が全くない。電池の亀裂又はその他の電池の損傷が最小とされ、装置全体の簡易さが著しく向上する。本発明は、比較的低コストで且つ信頼性の高い燃料電池組立体を提供するものである。この燃料電池組立体は、内部を画成する容器を備えている。ガス透過性の多孔質ハウジングが容器内に配置されることが好ましい。燃料電池積重ね体は、多孔質ハウジングの内部に収容されている。空気、又はその他の酸素を含むガスが容器と多孔質ハウジングとの間の領域内に空気を供給することによって燃料電池積重ね体に供給される。空気は、多孔質ハウジングの壁を貫通して流れ、燃料電池積重ね体に達することが好ましい。燃料電池積重ね体は、交互に設けられた複数の電池と相互接続板とを備えている。電池の各々は、陽極面と、陰極面とを有している。相互接続板組立体の各々は、電池の陰極面に隣接する酸化剤側と、別の電池の陽極面に隣接する燃料側とを有している。燃料は、燃料側の中央領域と燃料側の外周との間の中間に配置された複数の燃料出口にて燃料側に供給されることが好ましい。反応生成物の集め導体管が反応生成物を燃料側から吸引し得るように、燃料側の中央領域に反応生成物の入口を有している。燃料ガス集め導体管は、燃料ガスが酸化剤側から流れ出るようにするため、酸化剤側の中央領域に燃料入口を有している。多孔質ハウジングは、燃料電池積重ね体によって発生された熱で加熱される。このことは、空気が、多孔質ハウジングの内部と積重ね体の外部又は、外周との間に画成された、残留反応生成物の燃焼領域に入るとき、多孔質ハウジングを通って流れる空気を例えば、500℃乃至800℃まで予熱することを可能にする。相互接続板組立体の周縁から半径方向外方に進む残留生成物は、多孔質ハウジングを通って流れる加熱した空気と共に燃焼する。このことは、相互接続板の酸化剤側まで流れる空気を典型的に、約700℃乃至1000℃の望ましい温度まで加熱し、組立体に入る空気を予熱することを何ら不要にする。この望ましい温度は、積重ね体にとって望まれ又は必要とされる作動温度によって決まる。また、空気は多孔質ハウジングを通過するから、多孔質ハウジングは、外面にて比較的低温度状態を保ち、安全性及び効率さの双方にとって都合がよい。相互接続板の燃料側及び酸化剤側の双方に沿ったガスの流れは、流れ偏向器によって導かれることが好ましい。これらの流れ偏向器は、相互接続板を波形にすることにより形成されることが好ましい。これら波形部分は、流れ偏向器として機能するのみならず、隣接する電池の陰極面及び陽極面との電気的接触面を形成する。この酸化剤側は、半径方向に方向決めした流れ偏向器を有する一方、燃料側は、半径方向決めした流れ偏向器及び回転方向に方向決めした偏向器の双方を有することが好ましい。燃料積重ね体は、水平方向に方向決めされる、すなわち、ウェハ状相互接続板及び電池が垂直方向に方向決めされた状態で方向決めされることが好ましい。該燃料電池積重ね体は、燃料電池積重ね体が、作動温度の50℃以下となる迄、実質的に自由な方法にて熱により膨張し且つ収縮することが許容されることが好ましい。温度変化の大部分の間、この自由な動作は、電池及び相互接続板の亀裂又はその他の損傷を最小にするのに役立つ。波形部分の外面部分は、燃料側にて銀及び酸化剤側にて金のような柔軟な金属でめっきし、隣接する電池との良好な電気的接触を可能にし且つ電池に対する亀裂又はその他の損傷を防止するのに役立ち得るようにすることが好ましい。本発明は、燃料及び酸素の流れに関して従来の燃料電池装置と相違しており、その主たる理由は、相互接続板の燃料側に分割した燃料流れを採用し、また、相互接続板の酸化剤側に酸化剤ガス（典型的に、空気）の半径方向内方への流れを使用するからである。何れの時点にても濃厚な燃料及び濃厚な酸化剤が同時に存在することは無いため、本発明は、複雑なガス分配ノズルを必要とせずに、従来の燃料電池組立体に伴う温度の急上昇の問題を解消する。このガス分配方法は、同様にその他の有利な点ももたらす。使用済み燃料の一部分（燃料反応生成物）を燃料側の中央領域にて集め導体管により集めることができる。この使用済み燃料流れ中の反応水生成物は、リホーミング流れの供給源として使用され、このため、外部の蒸気発生及びボイラ給水の処理が全く不要である。また、分割された燃料の流れは燃料を相互接続板の燃料側の全体、従って、電池の陽極面に迅速に分配する。このことは、電池が発生する極めて吸熱的なリホーミング反応により局部的に過剰に冷却されるのを防止するのに役立つ。その結果、この積重ね体は、外部のリホーマ装置を必要とせずに、リホーミングを内部に容易に内蔵することができる。本発明の場合、積重ね体からの廃熱を燃料電池積重ね体から多孔質ハウジングに伝達することができる。多孔質ハウジング内のこの熱は、多孔質ハウジングを貫通して流れる空気に伝達され、極めて効果的な空気の予熱を行う。空気が多孔質ハウジングを通じて半径方向に流れるため、積重ね体の長さに沿った積重ね体の冷却は均一となる。また、内方に向けた空気を提供することは、熱を積重ね体に隣接する位置に保持し、このため、実質的に熱損失ゼロの状態にて比較的低温の容器又は囲い物を使用することができる。多くの従来の燃料電池装置の残留反応生成物（使用済み燃料）は、電池の縁部における使用済みの酸化剤を燃焼させることにより処理されている。本発明の場合、相互接続板の外周の周りから外に出る残留反応生成物の一部は、多孔質ハウジングを通過する加熱された空気と接触したときに電池の縁部にて燃焼される。このことは、空気を電池の作動温度に最終的に予熱することになる。燃焼によるこの直接的な加熱は、高価な高温熱交換器を不要にする。多くの燃料電池積重ね体の設計において、電池は共に締め付けて、気密のガスシールを提供し且つ電気的接点抵抗を最小にする必要がある。この締付けは、積重ね体を加熱し且つ冷却する間、自由な膨張及び収縮を阻止し、熱応力を生じさせる可能性がある。このため、締め付けにより付与された機械的な力は、電池に亀裂を生じさせ又はその他、電池を不良にする可能性がある。シールレスの積重ね体の設計とすることにより、ガスシールを提供すべく締め付けることが不要となる。金及び銀の使用により、作動温度（典型的に、700乃至1000℃）にて柔軟で且つ適合性のある電気的接触表面が提供される。また、銀を使用することは、相互接続板の酸化剤側における酸化も阻止する。相互接続板の燃料側に金を使用することもできるが、銀はより低廉であり、燃料側にて酸化の問題は存在しないため、金の使用を検討する必要はない。本発明は、燃料電池積重ね体に伴う費用の一部を節減する。従来の燃料電池積重ね体は、セラミック製電池の熱膨張率に適合し得るようにセラミック製の相互接続板を使用することがしばしばである。しかしながら、機械的な強度の必要条件に適合するため、セラミック製の相互接続板は比較的厚く形成しなければならない。この厚さの必要条件は、セラミックの材料コストが高いことと相俟って、相互接続板のコストを許容し得ない程に高価なものにする可能性がある。この問題点を解消するため、金属製の相互接続板を使用することができる。これら相互接続板は、酸化イットリウム又はアルミナのような特殊な材料でドーピングし、熱膨張率を調節する必要がある。また、これら特殊な合金は高価であり且つ弱体となる傾向がある。本発明の積重ね体の形態が自由に膨張することは、相互接続板に対して３１６のような一般的なステンレス鋼を使用することを許容することにより、従来の燃料電池組立体に伴うこの問題点を解消する。本発明のその他の特徴及び有利な点は、添付図面と共に、以下に詳細に掲げた好適な実施の形態の詳細な説明から明らかになるであろう。図面の簡単な説明図１は、本発明に従って製造された燃料電池組立体の簡略化した部分概略図的な断面等角図である。図２は、一端に区画板を有する図１の多孔質ハウジングの図である。図２Ａは、積重ね体の最初の加熱のための有孔供給管を示す、図２の多孔質ハウジングの隅部の任意の部分を切欠いた多少拡大図である。図２Ｂは、区画板の外周における波形部分間の色々なパイプ及び管の位置を示す、図２の右側区画室の簡略化した端面図である。図３は、４つの相互接続板及び５つの電池の多少、簡略化した図である。図４は、多孔質ハウジングの一部分内の相互接続板の燃料側及び電池の陰極面を示す、拡大した分解等角図である。図５は、図４の相互接続板の酸化剤側を示す、図４と同様の図である。図５Ａは、図５の相互接続板の周縁の一部分の拡大図である。図５Ｂは、流れを偏向する波形部分を示す、図５Ａの線５Ｂ−５Ｂに沿った断面図である。好適な実施の形態の説明燃料電池組立体２は、典型的に、炭素鋼で出来た、容器４を含むように図１に図示されている。容器４は、ブロア１０からの空気が容器４の内部１２に入るときに通る一対の空気入口６、８を有している。燃料電池組立体２は、気体透過性の多孔質ハウジング１６を備える、図２に最も良く図示した燃料電池積重ね体の組立体１４を有している。ハウジング１６は、典型的に、空気又はその他の酸化剤のガスがその外周面１８を通過してハウジング１６の内部２０に入ることを許容する、ステンレス鋼のような金属スポンジ材料で出来ている。端部２２、２４は、絶縁板２６、２８によって密封されている。典型的に、セラミック材料で出来た板２６、２８は、共に、電気的且つ熱絶縁体である。燃料積重ね体の組立体１４は、絶縁体２６、２８の外面に固着された区画板３０、３２も有している。区画板３０、３２は、容器４の内面３５に係合する扇状の外縁３４を有している。板３０は、内面３５に固定される一方、板３２は、内面に摺動可能に係合する。扇状縁部３４は、空気入口６、８から容器４の内部１２に入る空気流が多孔質ハウジング１６の外面１８の周りを均一に流れることを許容する。このことは、図１に空気流の矢印で示してある。また、扇状縁部３４は、以下により詳細に説明するように、色々な管及び導体管が通るための開口部を提供する。区画板３２は、区画板から軸方向に伸長し且つ空気入口８を取り囲む領域内にて区画板３２と容器４との間に拘束された圧縮ばねを有している。ばね３６の目的については、以下に説明する。組立体１４は、３つの水平支持バー３８によって容器４内に支持されている。該支持バーは、一端にて容器４の内面３５に固着されている。図１に戻ると、燃料電池積重ね体の組立体１４は、多孔質ハウジング１６の内部２０に収容された燃料電池積重ね体４０を含むように示してある。積重ね体４０は、交互に現れる電池４２及び相互接続板４４から成っている。電池４２は、セラミック製電池であることが好ましく、相互接続板４４は、ステンレス鋼であることが好ましい。電池４２及び相互接続板４４の各々は、図面の便宜上、その寸法に対して実質的に拡大したその軸方向寸法を有している。電池４２及び相互接続板４４の典型的な寸法は、５乃至30ｃｍ（２乃至１２インチ）である。相互接続板４４の軸方向寸法４６（図５Ｂ参照）は、約0.63乃至2.54ｃｍ（0.25乃至１インチ）である一方、電池４２の軸方向寸法は、約10乃至1000μｍである。その他の寸法も使用可能である。電池４２の各々は、陽極層４８と、陰極層５０とを有し、これら層の間に、電解液層５２が保持されている。陽極層４８及び電解液層５２の外径は、略等しい一方、陰極層５０は、より小さい外径を有し、陰極層５０の周りに周方向の環状スペース５４を形成する。典型的に、ステンレス鋼で出来た金属リング５６は、環状スペース５４内に嵌まり得る寸法とされている。リング５６は、以下に説明するように、燃料が陰極層５０の陰極面５８に接触するのを防止するために使用される。陽極層４８は、典型的に、約200μｍの厚さ、電解液層５２は、約20μ ｍの厚さ、及び陰極層５０は、約５乃至10μｍの厚さである。電池４２の積重ね体４０及び相互接続板４４の熱膨張及び収縮が以下に説明するように、許容される仕方のため、かかる薄い電池４２が可能となる。次に、主として、図４、図５、図５Ａ、図５Ｂを参照すると、相互接続板４４は、隣接する電池４２（図４に図示せず）の陽極面６２に面する、図４に図示した燃料側６０と、図４に図示した隣接する電池４２の陰極面５８に面する、図５に図示した酸化剤側６４とを有するように示してある。相互接続板４４は、約50 0乃至1000μｍの厚さであり、その全周の周りに形成された波形部分６６、６７を有することが好ましい。図５Ｂに最も良く図示した、半径方向に方向決めされた波形部分６６は、各面５８、６２にて凸形形状と凹形形状とを交互に繰り返し、燃料側６０及び酸化剤側６４に沿った流体の流れに対して、半径方向に方向決めした流れ偏向器６６を提供する。しかしながら、燃料側６０には、回転方向に方向決めした流れ偏向器６７が形成されている。相互接続板４４と隣接する電池４２との間の電気的接触を高めるため、波形部分の最外側部分は、金又は銀のような良導電体にてめっきされている。金及び銀は、また、陰極面５８及び陽極面６２に接触するための比較的柔軟な接触層を共に提供する点からも好ましい。陽極側６２の波形部分は、銀めっきされている一方、酸化剤側６４の波形部分は、接触面が酸化剤側にて酸化するのを防止し得るように金めっきされることが好ましい。典型的に、天然ガス６８の形態をした燃料は、一対の燃料供給管７０、７２を通って流れ、次に、一対の気体供給針７４、７６を通って流れる。各相互接続板４４に対して一組みの針７４、７６が設けられている。気体供給針７４、７６の各々は、相互接続板４４の外周８０と燃料側６０の中央領域８２との間の途中にて、燃料側６０に沿って配置された燃料出口７８を有している。波形部分６６、６７によって、図４に色々な矢印で示すように、燃料６８は、半径方向及び回転方向の双方に向けて流れる。使用済み燃料又は反応生成物の集め導体管８４は、燃料電池積重ね体の全体の上方になる燃料電池積重ね体４０の長さに沿って伸長する一方、供給管７０、７２は、積重ね体の一側部にて積重ね体に沿って伸長している。回収針８６は、各相互接続板４４に対して集め導体管８４から下方に伸長している。回収針の各々は、燃料側６０の中央領域８２に配置された、その末端すなわち下端に反応生成物の入口８８を有している。燃料６８が燃料出口７８から中央領域８２に進むとき迄に、燃料の大部分は消費される。反応生成物９０は、回収針８６の入口８８を通じて中央領域８２から吸引される。反応生成物９０は、二酸化炭素及び水の混合体を含み、また、一酸化炭素及び水素の形態をした未使用の燃料の量を含んでいる。この使用については、以下に説明する。図５には、相互接続板４４の中心の下方に方向決めして設けられた排ガス回収導体管９４から上方に伸長する回収針９２が図示されている。相互接続板４４及び隣接する電池４２は、回収針９２の膨張部分又は拡張領域９５により垂直に支持されている。回収針９２は、酸化剤側６４の中央領域９８に隣接して排ガス入口９６を有している。排ガス１００は、排ガス回収導体管９４を介して積重ね体４０から吸引される。このように、酸化剤ガスは多孔質ハウジング１６の内部壁１０４と積重ね体４０との間に画成された環状領域１０２から流れる。典型的に空気である酸化剤ガスは、矢印１０６で示すように、多孔質ハウジング１６を貫通して流れる。この空気は、多孔質ハウジング１６を貫通して流れた後、多孔質ハウジング１６に伝達された燃料電池組立体４０から発生された熱によって、例えば500℃乃至800℃まで加熱される。多孔質ハウジング１６の外面１０８は、空気が壁を通るため比較的低温のままであり、空気は貫通する際に加熱される。相互接続板４４の燃料側６０から半径方向外方に流れる反応生成物１１０は、多少の可燃性ガスを含んでいる。これら可燃性ガスは、領域１０２に入ると、領域１０２内の加熱した空気と反応し且つ燃焼し、これにより、酸化剤ガス（空気）の温度を約700℃乃至1000℃まで更に上昇させる。反応生成物１１０内の比較的少量の可燃性生成物は、領域１０２内のガスの酸素含有量に著しく悪影響を与えず、そのガスは、次に、電池４２の陰極面５８と相互接続板４４の酸化剤側６４との間の領域内に吸引される。ガスは、半径方向に方向決めした流れ偏向器６７により案内されて、酸化剤側６４に沿って流れる。金属製リング５６は、未燃焼燃料が陰極面５８に接触し、陰極を還元させることを防止するのに役立つ。反応生成物９０（使用済み燃料）は、容器４の内部１２の頂部区画室１１４内に配置されたエジェクタ１１２（図１参照）に供給される。典型的に天然ガス６８である炭化水素燃料の供給分が、エジェクタ１１２に対する作動ガスとして使用される。エジェクタ１１２の機能に関しては以下により詳細に説明する。燃料電池積重ね体４０は、燃料電池積重ね体の陽極及び陰極として機能する一対の端板１１６、１１８を有している。管１２０、１２２が燃料電池積重ね体４０により形成された電流にアクセスし得るように端板１１６、１１８に接続されている。機械的圧縮ばね３６は、積重ね体４０が、その作動温度の約50℃以内であるとき、すなわち、予熱サイクルの終了時付近にあるときにのみ、摺動可能な板３２に圧縮力を付与するような寸法とされている。相互接続板４４の遥かに厚い軸方向厚さに対して電池４２の軸方向厚さが極めて薄いため、積重ね体４０は相互接続板でのみ出来ているかのように、軸方向に膨張し且つ収縮する。このため、多孔質ハウジング１６、管及び導体管７０、７２、８４、９４及び相互接続板４４が全て、熱膨張率の等しい材料、好ましくはステンレス鋼で出来ているから、板３２に圧縮力を付与すると、積重ね体４０に圧縮力が加わる。ばね３６は、入口８に入る空気により常に冷却されて、ばね３６がその弾性を保持することを確実にする。始動時、積重ね体４０は、始動バーナ１２４における空気により燃焼する天然ガス６８から発生された高温のガスを使用して予熱される。図１を参照。始動バーナ１２４には、管１２６に沿った弁１２５を通じて天然ガス及び管１２８に沿って弁１２７を通じてブロア１０からの空気が供給される。予熱に使用される高温の排ガスは、管１３０を通じてバーナ１２４から流れ、該管は、絶縁板２６に隣接する位置に配置された円形の供給管１３２に接続する。図２Ａ及び図２Ｂを参照。円形の供給管１３２は、多数の開孔１３４を有しており、加熱されたガスは、これら開孔を通って内部２０の環状領域１０２に流動する。高温のガスを多孔質ハウジング１６内に保つため、ブロア１０は、十分な量の空気を容器４の内部１２内に向け、多孔質ハウジング１６の外側の空気圧力が多孔質ハウジング内の空気圧力よりも僅かに高圧であるように作動される。この予熱の間、陽極面６２の酸化を防止することが望ましい。この酸化を防止するためには、窒素貯蔵瓶１３６からの窒素を管１３８に沿って、弁１３７を介して管１２６に向け、また、管１２６から管１４０、１４２に沿って弁１３９、１４１を介して向ける。管１４０、１４２は、その長さに沿って形成された熱交換コイル１４４、１４６を有しており、コイル１４４、１４６は、導体管９４に沿って配置されている。コイル１４４、１４６内で加熱された窒素は出口管１４８を通ってエジェクタ１１２から流れ、出口管１４８は、燃料供給管７０、７２内に伸長している。次に、窒素は、燃料側６０と陽極面６２との間に配置された針７４、７６の出口７８を通って流れる。このことは、陽極面６２を窒素で覆われた状態に保ち、陽極面の酸化を防止する。ガス（瓶１３６からの窒素とバーナ１２４からの加熱された排ガスとの混合体）は、回収針９２の排ガス出口９６を通じ且つ集め導体管９４を通って多孔質ハウジング１６の内部２０から吸引される。燃料電池積重ね体４０が作動温度に達すると、該電池積重ね体は、天然ガス６８又はその他の供給燃料を受け入れる準備が整う。しかしながら、この時点にてリホーミング流を提供し得るように再循環に利用可能な燃料電池反応生成物の水は存在しない。必要な始動リホーミング流れは、水貯蔵ドラム１５０から供給されたボイラ給水で１回、完全にフラッシングすることにより発生される。水は弁１５１及び管１５２に沿って流れる。管１５２は、導体管９４内に収容されたその長さに沿って伝熱コイル１５４を有している。水がコイル１５４を通って流れることにより、水は始動排ガス（始動バーナ１２４により発生）が通過することによりフラッシングされて蒸気となる。燃料電池積重ね体４０が作動温度に達し、リホーミングに十分な始動蒸気が発生されたならば、弁１２７、１２５、１３７、１５１（始動工程の間にのみ開放している）が閉じられ、ブロア１０が空気入口６、８を通じて空気を容器４の内部１２内に吹き込む。天然ガス６８は、管１２６、エジェクタ１１２を貫通する管１４２、エジェクタをバイパスして且つ出口管１４８内に流れるための管１４０、１５２を通じて圧送される。管１４２に沿ってエジェクタ１１２を貫通して流れる天然ガスと管１５２に沿ってエジェクタ１１２をバイパスする天然ガスとの割合を制御するために弁１３９、１４１が使用される。天然ガス６８は、管１４８を通って管７０、７２内に流れ、各相互接続板４４の燃料側６０に供給される。その後、天然ガスは偏向されて、回転方向及び半径方向の双方、半径方向内方及び半径方向外方の双方に向けて進む。これと同時に、空気は多孔質ハウジング１６を通じて吸引され且つ多孔質ハウジングを通じて吸引されるときに形成される。この空気１０６の最終的な予熱は、環状領域１０２内で反応生成物１１０が燃焼することで行われる。これで完全に予熱された空気は、各燃料電池の酸化剤側６４と陰極面５８との間の領域内に吸引される。この半径方向内方への動きは、各相互接続板４４の側部６４にて中央領域９８に隣接して配置された回収針９２の排ガス入口９６から排ガス１００が流れることにより行われる。排ガス１００は、典型的に約700℃乃至1000℃と極めて高温であり、天然ガスが熱交換管１４４、１４６を通って流れるとき、天然ガス６８を効果的に予熱する。熱交換器１４４、１４６を通って流れる排ガスの温度を低下させるため、排ガスの一部は管１６２に沿って熱交換器をバイパスすることができる。また、ブロア１０は、始動工程中、外気を弁１５９を通じ且つ管１６０に沿って集め導体管９４内に導入することができる。燃料側６０からの反応生成物は回収針８６の入口８８を通じて燃料側の中央領域８２に集められる。回収針８６は、反応生成物９０を交差する反応生成物の集め導体管８４内に供給する。反応生成物９０は、エジェクタ１１２を通じて再循環され、天然ガス６８は、管１４２を経て流れる作動ガスとして使用される。管１４８からの排出物は、天然ガス６８と反応生成物９０との混合体である。多孔質ハウジング１６は、燃料供給管７２及び反応生成物の集め導体管８４が通り得るように形成された、図２に図示した開口部１５６、１５８を有している。また、燃料供給管７０、排ガス回収導体管９４、及び管１３０に対する他の穴も形成されている。多孔質ハウジング１６に入る管及び導体管の全ては、熱的に絶縁されている。同様に、エジェクタ１１２、始動バーナ１２４、色々な管及びラインを含む、区画室１１４内の装置も同様に全て熱的に絶縁されている。これら区画室からの熱損失は、ブロア１０から頂部区画室１１４内に流動する空気を予熱することにより回収される。次の請求の範囲に記載された本発明の主題から逸脱せずに、開示した実施の形態に対し改変例及び変更例を為すことが可能である。例えば、積重ね体４０は、所定の温度に達したときにのみ、選択された軸方向への力を積重ね体に付与する温度作動式の偏倚要素により軸方向に圧縮することができる。また、機械的ではなくて空圧的に、軸方向への圧縮力を提供してもよい。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Fuel cell assembly Background of the Invention Fuel cells use the chemical energy of a fuel, typically hydrogen, in a continuous process. A battery that converts electricity into electrical energy. Fuel cells use various fuels and oxidants. Although they can be used, these fuel cells almost exclusively combine hydrogen and oxygen. To form water vapor. Fuel cells have an anode in contact with fuel and a cathode in contact with oxygen. It has a pole and an electrolyte held between the anode and the cathode. Each of the batteries has one A voltage of less than 1 volt, thus producing a series of fuel cells or stacks of fuel cells. Is used to convert fuel into useful energy. Fuel and oxygen separated To maintain and electrically connect the anode of one battery to the cathode of an adjacent battery An interconnect plate is used between each battery. One source of hydrogen is natural gas. One general way to get hydrogen from natural gas A typical method is to combine natural gas and steam at high temperatures, such as 760 ° C, to produce hydrogen. Is to use the obtained reformer device. Such a fuel cell is a separate external It operates using a steam generator to generate hydrogen. Other fuel cells have sufficient fuel cells. Operating at moderately high temperatures, and other appropriate design considerations Thereby, the function of the reformer device is combined with the fuel cell itself. One type of fuel cell is March 22-23, 1994, Atlanta, Georgia. EPRI / GRI fuel cell technology related to fuel cell technology research and development At the workshop (Fuel Cell Workshop), M. Patrick (M. Petrik) and its "Development of stacks of inter-science radial flow (IRF) SOFCs by others Status (Stack Development Status of the Interscience Radial Flow (IRF) SOFC) One using a radial flow regime for solid oxide fuel cells in In this design, fuel and air are supplied to each cell through a pair of holes in the central region of the cell. Supplied to the pond. The fuel and air then flow radially outward to the cell edge. . This flow regime requires a seal to separate fuel and air at the point of supply. And the temperature rises sharply in the center of the cell where both rich fuel and rich air are present. There is a risk of ascending. Held in Oslo, Norway, May 6-10, 1996 , Proceedings of the 2nd European Fuel Cell Forum Vol. M. Prika on pages 1,393-402 (M. Prica) and others, "Improved thermomechanical performance in SOFCs. Contoured PEN Plates for Improved Thermomechanical Performance in SOFCs). It is supplied to the center of each battery through a pair of needles. Next, these gases are Flows radially to the part. This flow configuration eliminates the need for gas seals, but still Thus, there is a problem with the temperature rise. Disclosed in European Patent No. 0,635,896 In another form, the fuel is supplied to the center of the cell by a supply needle, Air is supplied to the entire area of the cathode by a distribution nozzle. Used fuel and used Spent air is collected at the edge of the battery. This configuration eliminates the need for gas seals. Also, there is no problem of a sudden rise in temperature. However, this configuration is complicated Requires a chisel dispenser. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a gas seal, large axial clamping force, separate air heater, external Reformer equipment, pre-reformer equipment, external steam supply for reforming Fuel cell assembly, which is typically a solid oxide fuel cell assembly that does not require any About three-dimensional. This assembly has no gas leakage. Battery cracks or other Pond damage is minimized and the simplicity of the entire system is significantly improved. The present invention is relatively It is intended to provide a low-cost and highly reliable fuel cell assembly. The fuel cell assembly includes a container defining an interior. Gas permeable porosity Preferably, the quality housing is located within the container. The fuel cell stack is porous Housed inside the quality housing. Air or other oxygen-containing gas Fuel cell by supplying air into the area between the heater and the porous housing. It is supplied to the stack. Air flows through the walls of the porous housing and the fuel cell Preferably, the stack is reached. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of alternating cells and interconnect plates. You. Each of the batteries has an anode surface and a cathode surface. Each of the interconnect plate assemblies Are the oxidizer side adjacent to the cathode side of the cell and the fuel side adjacent to the anode side of another cell. have. The fuel is located midway between the fuel-side central area and the fuel-side outer periphery. It is preferable that the fuel is supplied to the fuel side at a plurality of fuel outlets. Collect the reaction product so that the conductor tube can suck the reaction product from the fuel side. Has an inlet for the reaction product in the central region. Fuel gas collecting conductor tube Has a fuel inlet in the central area on the oxidant side to allow ing. The porous housing is heated by the heat generated by the fuel cell stack. This means that the air can flow between the interior of the porous housing and the exterior or perimeter of the stack. As it enters the combustion zone for residual reaction products, defined between it, it passes through the porous housing. For example, from 500 ° C. to 800 ° C. Mutual Residual products that travel radially outward from the periphery of the connection plate assembly Combustion with heated air flowing through. This is due to the oxidizer side of the interconnect plate. Air, typically heated to about 700 ° C. to 1000 ° C. Eliminates the need to preheat air entering the volume. This desired temperature is stacked It depends on the operating temperature desired or required by the body. The air is porous Through the porous housing, the porous housing is relatively low temperature on the outer surface And is convenient for both safety and efficiency. Gas flow along both the fuel and oxidant sides of the interconnect plate is directed to the flow deflector. Therefore, it is preferable to be derived. These flow deflectors corrugate the interconnect plate. It is preferably formed by These waveforms are used as flow deflectors Not only functions, but also forms an electrical contact surface with the cathode and anode surfaces of adjacent batteries I do. This oxidizer side has a radially oriented flow deflector while the fuel The side has both a radially oriented flow deflector and a rotationally oriented deflector. It is preferred to have. The fuel stack is oriented horizontally, i.e. the wafer-like interconnect plate Preferably, the battery is oriented with the battery oriented vertically. The The fuel cell stack is allowed to run until the fuel cell stack is below the operating temperature of 50 ° C. Is preferably allowed to expand and contract by heat in a thermally free manner. No. During the majority of the temperature change, this free movement can lead to cracks or cracks in the cells and interconnect plates. Helps to minimize other damage. The outer surface of the corrugated part Plating with a flexible metal such as gold on the oxidant side and good electricity with adjacent batteries Helps to make contact and prevent cracking or other damage to the battery It is preferable to obtain it. The present invention differs from conventional fuel cell devices in the flow of fuel and oxygen, The main reason for this is to use a separate fuel flow on the fuel side of the interconnect plate, Radial inward flow of oxidant gas (typically air) on the oxidant side of the interconnect plate Because it uses. At any point, rich fuel and rich oxidizer are present at the same time. The present invention does not require a complicated gas distribution nozzle, The problem of a rapid rise in temperature associated with the fuel cell assembly of the present invention is eliminated. This gas distribution method There are other advantages as well. Part of spent fuel (fuel reaction product) Can be collected in a central region on the fuel side by a conductor tube. This used fuel The water of reaction product in the feed stream is used as a source of the reforming stream, Therefore, there is no need for external steam generation and boiler feedwater treatment. Also split The fuel flow quickly transfers the fuel to the entire fuel side of the interconnect plate, and thus to the anode surface of the cell. Distribute. This is due to the extremely endothermic reforming reaction generated by the battery. Helps prevent overcooling locally. As a result, this stack The reforming can be easily integrated inside without the need for external reformer equipment. Can be. In the case of the present invention, waste heat from the stack is transferred from the fuel cell stack to the porous housing. Can be transmitted to This heat in the porous housing It is transmitted to the air flowing through it and provides a very effective preheating of the air. Air is porous Stack along the length of the stack to flow radially through the quality housing Cooling is uniform. Providing inward air also heats the stack At a relatively low temperature with virtually no heat loss Containers or enclosures can be used. The residual reaction products (spent fuel) of many conventional fuel cell devices are located at the edge of the cell. By combusting the spent oxidant. The place of the present invention In some cases, some of the residual reaction products exiting around the perimeter of the interconnect Burned at the edges of the cell when it comes in contact with the heated air passing through the jing. This will eventually preheat the air to the operating temperature of the battery. By combustion This direct heating eliminates the need for expensive high temperature heat exchangers. In many fuel cell stack designs, the cells are clamped together to provide an airtight gas There is a need to provide a seal and minimize electrical contact resistance. This tightening is While heating and cooling the stack, it prevents free expansion and contraction and creates thermal stress. Could be For this reason, the mechanical force given by the tightening It may crack or otherwise degrade the battery. Sealless stacking The helmet design eliminates the need to tighten to provide a gas seal Become. Flexible at operating temperatures (typically 700-1000 ° C) due to the use of gold and silver And a compatible electrical contact surface is provided. Also, using silver, It also prevents oxidation on the oxidant side of the interconnect plate. Gold used on fuel side of interconnect plate But silver is cheaper and there is no oxidation problem on the fuel side Therefore, there is no need to consider using gold. The present invention saves some of the costs associated with fuel cell stacks. Conventional fuel cell volume The stack is made of ceramic interconnects to match the coefficient of thermal expansion of the ceramic battery. Often, connection plates are used. However, the requirements for mechanical strength Ceramic interconnect boards must be made relatively thick to meet Absent. This thickness requirement, coupled with the high material cost of the ceramic, The cost of the interconnect board can be unacceptably high. This question To solve the problem, a metal interconnect plate can be used. These mutual The connection plate is doped with a special material such as yttrium oxide or alumina, It is necessary to adjust the coefficient of thermal expansion. Also, these special alloys are expensive and weak. It tends to be. The freedom of the stack configuration of the present invention to expand Allow the use of common stainless steel such as 316 for the plate This eliminates this problem associated with conventional fuel cell assemblies. Other features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a simplified partial schematic diagram of a fuel cell assembly manufactured according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a view of the porous housing of FIG. 1 having a partition plate at one end. FIG. 2A shows the porous housing of FIG. 2 showing a perforated supply tube for initial heating of the stack. FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged view in which an arbitrary part of a corner of a housing is cut out. FIG. 2B shows various pipes and tube locations between corrugations on the perimeter of the divider. FIG. 3 is a simplified end view of the right compartment of FIG. FIG. 3 is a somewhat simplified diagram of four interconnect plates and five batteries. FIG. 4 shows the fuel side of the interconnect plate and the cathode side of the cell in a portion of the porous housing. FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded isometric view showing FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the oxidant side of the interconnect plate of FIG. FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of a portion of the periphery of the interconnect plate of FIG. FIG. 5B shows a portion of the waveform that deflects the flow along the line 5B-5B in FIG. 5A. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The fuel cell assembly 2 is shown in FIG. 1 to include a container 4, typically made of carbon steel. Is shown. The container 4 is opened when air from the blower 10 enters the inside 12 of the container 4. It has a pair of air inlets 6, 8 through which it passes. The fuel cell assembly 2 comprises a gas permeable porous housing 16 as shown in FIG. It also has a fuel cell stack assembly 14 as well shown. The housing 16 , Typically air or other oxidant gas passes through its outer peripheral surface 18 Metal sponge, such as stainless steel, that allows entry into the interior 20 of the ring 16 Made of material. The ends 22, 24 are sealed by insulating plates 26, 28. You. Typically, the plates 26, 28 made of ceramic material are both electrically and thermally insulated. It is an edge. The fuel stack assembly 14 is secured to the outer surfaces of the insulators 26,28. Partition plates 30 and 32 are also provided. The partition plates 30 and 32 are engaged with the inner surface 35 of the container 4. It has a fan-shaped outer edge 34 that fits. The plate 30 is fixed to the inner surface 35 while the plate 30 32 is slidably engaged with the inner surface. The fan-shaped edge portion 34 is connected to the air inlets 6 and 8 by a container. The air flow entering the interior 12 of the housing 4 flows uniformly around the outer surface 18 of the porous housing 16. To be allowed. This is indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrows of the air flow. Also a fan Relationship Portion 34 provides for passage of various tubes and conductor tubes, as described in more detail below. Provide an opening. The partition plate 32 extends axially from the partition plate and connects the air inlet 8 to the partition plate 32. A compression spring restrained between the partition plate 32 and the container 4 in the surrounding area; You. The purpose of the spring 36 will be described below. The assembly 14 has three horizontal supports. It is supported in the container 4 by the holding bar 38. The support bar has a container 4 at one end. Is fixed to the inner surface 35 of the first member. Returning to FIG. 1, the fuel cell stack assembly 14 is disposed within a porous housing 16. It is shown to include a fuel cell stack 40 housed in section 20. Stack 4 0 consists of alternating batteries 42 and interconnecting plates 44. Battery 42 is Preferably, the battery is a ceramic battery, and the interconnect plate 44 is made of stainless steel. Preferably. Each of the battery 42 and the interconnecting plate 44 is, for the sake of It has its axial dimension substantially enlarged relative to the dimension. Battery 42 and mutual Typical dimensions of the connecting plate 44 are 2 to 12 inches (5 to 30 cm). Mutual The axial dimension 46 (see FIG. 5B) of the connecting plate 44 is approximately 0. 63 to 2. 54cm (0. 25 to 1 inch), while the battery 42 has an axial dimension of about 10 to 1000 μm. So Other dimensions can be used. Each of the batteries 42 has an anode layer 48 and a cathode layer 50, between which a battery is provided. The lysing layer 52 is held. The outer diameters of the anode layer 48 and the electrolyte layer 52 are substantially equal On the other hand, the cathode layer 50 has a smaller outer diameter and has a circumferential annular shape around the cathode layer 50. A space 54 is formed. Typically, a metal ring 56 made of stainless steel It is sized to fit within the annular space 54. Ring 56 is described below To prevent fuel from contacting the cathode surface 58 of the cathode layer 50 Is done. The anode layer 48 is typically about 200 μm thick and the electrolyte layer 52 is about 20 μm thick. m, and the thickness of the cathode layer 50 is about 5 to 10 μm. Stack of batteries 42 Thermal expansion and contraction of body 40 and interconnect plate 44 are allowed, as described below. In this manner, such a thin battery 42 is possible. Next, referring mainly to FIGS. 4, 5, 5A and 5B, the interconnecting plate 44 will be described. Is shown in FIG. 4 facing the anode surface 62 of an adjacent battery 42 (not shown in FIG. 4). 5 facing the fuel side 60 and the cathode surface 58 of the adjacent cell 42 shown in FIG. And the oxidant side 64 shown in FIG. The interconnect plate 44 has approximately 50 Corrugated portions 66, 67 having a thickness of 0 to 1000 μm and formed around the entire circumference thereof It is preferable to have Radially oriented, best illustrated in FIG. 5B The wavy portion 66 alternates between a convex shape and a concave shape at each of the surfaces 58 and 62. Radially direct fluid flow along the fuel side 60 and the oxidant side 64. A flow deflector 66 is provided. However, the fuel side 60 has An oriented flow deflector 67 is formed. In order to increase the electrical contact between the interconnect plate 44 and the adjacent battery 42, the corrugations The outermost part of the minute is plated with a good conductor such as gold or silver. Gold and silver Also share a relatively flexible contact layer for contacting the cathode surface 58 and the anode surface 62. It is also preferable from the point of providing. The corrugated portion on the anode side 62 is silver-plated. On the other hand, the corrugated portion on the oxidant side 64 can prevent the contact surface from being oxidized on the oxidant side. It is preferable to perform gold plating. Typically, fuel in the form of natural gas 68 is provided through a pair of fuel supply pipes 70,72. And then through a pair of gas supply needles 74,76. Each interconnect board A pair of needles 74, 76 are provided for 44. Of the gas supply needles 74 and 76 Each is located halfway between the outer periphery 80 of the interconnect plate 44 and the central region 82 of the fuel side 60. And has a fuel outlet 78 located along the fuel side 60. Waveform portion 66, Due to 67, the fuel 68 is distributed radially and rotationally, as indicated by the various arrows in FIG. Flows in both directions. The collecting conductor tube 84 for the spent fuel or the reaction product is used for the entire fuel cell stack. The supply pipes 70, 7 extend along the length of the fuel cell stack 40 above. 2 extends along the stack at one side of the stack. Each collection needle 86 The collecting plate extends downward from the conductor tube 84 with respect to the interconnecting plate 44. Each of the collection needles Is located in the central region 82 of the fuel side 60 and has a reaction product at its end or lower end. It has an object entrance 88. When fuel 68 advances from fuel outlet 78 to central region 82 By then, most of the fuel is consumed. The reaction product 90 is supplied to the inlet 88 of the collection needle 86. Is sucked from the central region 82. Reaction product 90 comprises carbon dioxide and water. Including the amount of unused fuel in the form of carbon monoxide and hydrogen In. This use is described below. FIG. 5 shows an exhaust gas collection oriented below the center of the interconnect plate 44. A collection needle 92 extending upward from the conductor tube 94 is shown. Interconnection board 44 and And the adjacent battery 42 is supported vertically by an expanded portion or expanded area 95 of the collection needle 92. Is held. The collection needle 92 is located adjacent to the central region 98 on the oxidant side 64 and has an exhaust gas inlet. It has a mouth 96. Exhaust gas 100 is stacked through an exhaust gas recovery conductor tube 94. Sucked from 40. As described above, the oxidizing gas is supplied to the inner wall of the porous housing 16. It flows from an annular region 102 defined between 104 and the stack 40. Typically Oxidant gas, which is air, penetrates the porous housing 16 as shown by arrow 106. Flow through. This air flows through the porous housing 16 and then The heat generated by the fuel cell assembly 40 transmitted to the housing 16 causes For example, it is heated to 500 ° C to 800 ° C. The outer surface 108 of the porous housing 16 is empty. The air remains relatively cool as it passes through the walls, and the air is heated as it penetrates. phase The reaction products 110 flowing radially outward from the fuel side 60 of the interconnection plate 44 Contains flammable gas. When these flammable gases enter the region 102, they enter the region 1 02 reacts with and burns the heated air in the oxidant gas (air). The temperature is further increased to about 700 ° C to 1000 ° C. Relatively little in the reaction product 110 The amount of flammable products does not significantly affect the oxygen content of the gas in region 102 , The gas then passes through the cathode surface 58 of the battery 42 and the oxidant side 64 of the interconnect plate 44. Is sucked into the area between. The gas is passed to a radially directed flow deflector 67. More guided and flows along the oxidant side 64. The metal ring 56 allows unburned fuel to contact the cathode surface 58 and reduce the cathode. And help prevent. The reaction product 90 (spent fuel) 2 is supplied to an ejector 112 (see FIG. 1) disposed in the You. A supply of hydrocarbon fuel, typically natural gas 68, is supplied to an ejector 112. Used as working gas for The function of the ejector 112 is described below. This will be described in detail. The fuel cell stack 40 includes the anode and the cathode of the fuel cell stack. It has a pair of end plates 116 and 118 functioning as. Tubes 120 and 122 burn End plate 116 to access the current created by the fuel cell stack 40; 118 is connected. The mechanical compression spring 36 provides that when the stack 40 is within about 50 ° C. of its operating temperature. Only when it is near the end of the preheat cycle. The dimensions are such that a compressive force is applied to the Much thicker axial direction of interconnect plate 44 Since the axial thickness of the battery 42 is extremely small with respect to the thickness in the It expands and contracts in the axial direction, as if it were only made of a continuation board. For this reason, many Porous housing 16, tubes and conductor tubes 70, 72, 84, 94 and interconnect plate 44 Are all made of a material having the same coefficient of thermal expansion, preferably stainless steel. When a compressive force is applied to 32, a compressive force is applied to the stack 40. The spring 36 has an inlet 8 is constantly cooled by the air entering it, ensuring that the spring 36 retains its elasticity. To At start-up, the stack 40 is powered by natural combustion from air in the start-up burner 124. Preheating is performed using the high-temperature gas generated from the gas 68. See FIG. Starting bar To the natural gas and pipe 128 through a valve 125 along pipe 126. Thus, air from the blower 10 is supplied through the valve 127. High used for preheating The warm exhaust gas flows from the burner 124 through a tube 130, which passes through the insulating plate 26. It is connected to a circular supply pipe 132 arranged at an adjacent position. 2A and 2B reference. The circular supply pipe 132 has a large number of apertures 134, and the heated gas Flows through these openings into the annular region 102 of the interior 20. Hot gas In order to keep the inside of the porous housing 16, the blower 10 provides a sufficient amount of air inside the container 4. The air pressure outside the porous housing 16 is directed into the porous housing Is actuated to be slightly higher than the air pressure of During this preheating, it is desirable to prevent oxidation of anode surface 62. Prevent this oxidation To do so, the nitrogen from the nitrogen storage bottle 136 is passed along valve 137 along line 138. To the tube 126 and from the tube 126 along the tubes 140, 142 to the valve 139, Aim through 141. Tubes 140, 142 have heat exchange formed along their length. The coils 144 and 146 are provided in the conductor tube 94. Are arranged along. Nitrogen heated in the coils 144 and 146 is supplied to the outlet pipe 14. 8, and the outlet pipe 148 is connected to the fuel supply pipes 70, 72. Stretching in. Next, nitrogen was placed between the fuel side 60 and the anode surface 62. It flows through outlets 78 of needles 74,76. This means that the anode surface 62 is covered with nitrogen. To prevent oxidation of the anode surface. Gas (nitrogen and burner from bottle 136) The mixture with the heated exhaust gas from 124) passes through the exhaust gas outlet 96 of the collection needle 92. Aspirated from the interior 20 of the porous housing 16 through the conducting and collecting conductor tube 94 You. When the fuel cell stack 40 reaches operating temperature, the cell stack 8 or other fuel supply is ready. However, at this point Fuel cell reaction product water available for recycle to provide a reforming stream Does not exist. The required start-up reforming flow is supplied from the water storage drum 150. Generated by complete flushing once with the boiler feed water. Water is a valve It flows along 151 and tube 152. The tube 152 is housed in the conductor tube 94. Has a heat transfer coil 154 along its length. Water flows through coil 154 As a result, the starting exhaust gas (generated by the starting burner 124) passes through the water. And becomes steam. The fuel cell stack 40 reaches the operating temperature and generates sufficient starting steam for reforming. If generated, valves 127, 125, 137, 151 (open only during start-up process Is closed, and the blower 10 blows air through the air inlets 6 and 8 into the container 4. It blows into the part 12. Natural gas 68 passes through tube 126 and ejector 112 Tubing 142, tubing 14 for bypassing the ejector and flowing into outlet 148 0, 152. Through the ejector 112 along the tube 142 Flowing natural gas and natural gas bypassing the ejector 112 along the pipe 152 139, 141 are used to control the rate of Natural gas 68 flows through tubes 148 into tubes 70, 72 and into each interconnect plate 44. Is supplied to the fuel side 60. After that, the natural gas is deflected to the direction of rotation and radius. Direction, both radially inward and radially outward. At the same time , Air is drawn through the porous housing 16 and through the porous housing Formed when aspirated. The final preheating of this air 106 The reaction is performed by burning the reaction product 110 in 2. The sky is now completely preheated Mind Is drawn into the area between the oxidant side 64 and the cathode surface 58 of each fuel cell. this The radially inward movement is adjacent the central region 98 at the side 64 of each interconnect plate 44. The exhaust gas 100 flows from the exhaust gas inlet 96 of the collection needle 92 arranged in a vertical direction. Is performed. Exhaust gas 100 is very hot, typically around 700 ° C to 1000 ° C. , When natural gas flows through heat exchange tubes 144, 146, Preheat. Reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing through the heat exchangers 144, 146 Therefore, a part of the exhaust gas can bypass the heat exchanger along the pipe 162. . Also, during the start-up process, the blower 10 directs outside air through the valve 159 and along the pipe 160. It can be collected and introduced into the conductor tube 94. The reaction product from the fuel side 60 passes through the inlet 88 of the collection needle 86 to the central area on the fuel side. Collected in area 82. The collection needle 86 collects the reaction products that cross the reaction products 90. And supplied into the conductor tube 84. Reaction product 90 is recycled through ejector 112. Annealed, natural gas 68 is used as the working gas flowing through tube 142. tube The effluent from 148 is a mixture of natural gas 68 and reaction products 90. The porous housing 16 includes a fuel supply pipe 72 and a conductor pipe 84 for collecting reaction products. It has openings 156, 158 as shown in FIG. . Also, other holes for the fuel supply pipe 70, the exhaust gas recovery conductor pipe 94, and the pipe 130 are provided. Is also formed. All of the tubes and conductor tubes entering porous housing 16 are thermally insulated. Similarly, a partition including an ejector 112, a starter burner 124, and various tubes and lines. All the devices in the compartment 114 are similarly thermally insulated. Heat from these compartments The loss is due to preheating the air flowing from the blower 10 into the top compartment 114. Collected. The disclosed embodiments do not depart from the subject matter of the invention as set forth in the following claims. Modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments. For example, the stack 40 Applying a selected axial force to the stack only when a certain temperature is reached Axial compression can be provided by a temperature-actuated biasing element. Also, mechanically Alternatively, a compressive force in the axial direction may be provided pneumatically.

───────────────────────────────────────────────────── フロントページの続き (51)Int.Cl.⁷ 識別記号ＦＩテーマコート゛(参考）Ｈ０１Ｍ 8/24 Ｈ０１Ｍ 8/24 Ｒ (81)指定国ＥＰ(ＡＴ，ＢＥ，ＣＨ，ＤＥ，ＤＫ，ＥＳ，ＦＩ，ＦＲ，ＧＢ，ＧＲ，ＩＥ，ＩＴ，ＬＵ，ＭＣ，ＮＬ，ＰＴ，ＳＥ)，ＯＡ(ＢＦ，ＢＪ，ＣＦ，ＣＧ，ＣＩ，ＣＭ，ＧＡ，ＧＮ，ＭＬ，ＭＲ，ＮＥ，ＳＮ，ＴＤ，ＴＧ)，ＡＰ(ＧＨ，ＧＭ，ＫＥ，ＬＳ，ＭＷ，ＳＤ，ＳＺ，ＵＧ，ＺＷ)，ＥＡ(ＡＭ，ＡＺ，ＢＹ，ＫＧ，ＫＺ，ＭＤ，ＲＵ，ＴＪ，ＴＭ)，ＡＬ，ＡＭ，ＡＴ，ＡＵ，ＡＺ，ＢＡ，ＢＢ，ＢＧ，ＢＲ，ＢＹ，ＣＡ，ＣＨ，ＣＮ，ＣＵ，ＣＺ，ＤＥ，ＤＫ，ＥＥ，ＥＳ，ＦＩ，ＧＢ，ＧＥ，ＧＨ，ＧＭ，ＧＷ，ＨＵ，ＩＤ，ＩＬ，ＩＳ，ＪＰ，ＫＥ，ＫＧ，ＫＰ，ＫＲ，ＫＺ，ＬＣ，ＬＫ，ＬＲ，ＬＳ，ＬＴ，ＬＵ，ＬＶ，ＭＤ，ＭＧ，ＭＫ，ＭＮ，ＭＷ，ＭＸ，ＮＯ，ＮＺ，ＰＬ，ＰＴ，ＲＯ，ＲＵ，ＳＤ，ＳＥ，ＳＧ，ＳＩ，ＳＫ，ＳＬ，ＴＪ，ＴＭ，ＴＲ，ＴＴ，ＵＡ，ＵＧ，ＵＺ，ＶＮ，ＹＵ，ＺＷ【要約の続き】的に膨張し且つ収縮することが許容されて、燃料電池積重ね体が作動温度に近くなる迄、電池への損傷を最小にする。──────────────────────────────────────────────────続き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01M 8/24 H01M 8/24 R (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES , FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, ML, MR, NE, SN , TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AL , AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GE, GH, M, GW, HU, ID, IL, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX , NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZW Expansion and contraction are allowed to minimize damage to the cell until the fuel cell stack is near operating temperature.

Claims

[Claims] 1. In a fuel cell interconnect plate assembly, A planar body having an outer periphery, a fuel side, and an oxidant side; The fuel side comprises a central region and a flow deflector; A fuel supply conduit having a fuel outlet on the fuel side remote from both the central region and the outer periphery With a body tube, This allows the flow deflector to direct the flow of fuel from the fluid outlet to full radial A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly that allows flow in other directions. 2. 2. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly according to claim 1, wherein said outer periphery is substantially circular. A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly. 3. 2. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 1 wherein said fuel supply conduit. A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly comprising a plurality of said fuel outlets. 4. 2. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 1, wherein the fuel outlet comprises: A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly disposed substantially midway between a central portion and an outer periphery. 5. 2. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 1, wherein the reactive region is located in the central region. A fuel cell phase further comprising a fuel cell reaction product collection conductor tube having a product inlet Interconnection plate assembly. 6. 2. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 1, wherein the oxidant side has exhaust gas. A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly further comprising an exhaust gas recovery conductor tube having an inlet. 7. 7. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 6, wherein the oxidant side is a central region. Fuel cell interconnect plate assembly having a zone. 8. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 7, wherein the exhaust gas inlet is oxidized. A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly in a central region on the agent side. 9. 2. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 1, wherein the oxidant side is radial. A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly comprising a directionally oriented flow deflector. 10. 2. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flow deflector comprises a half deflector. Radially oriented flow deflectors and rotationally oriented flow deflectors A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly comprising: 11. 2. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 1, wherein the oxidant side has a flow bias. A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly comprising a director. 12. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 11, wherein the fuel side and oxidation A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly wherein the agent-side flow deflector comprises a flexible electrical contact surface. 13. 13. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 12, wherein the fuel side and the oxidation The flexible electrical contact surfaces of the deflector on the agent side are silver and gold, respectively. Fuel cell interconnect plate assembly. 14． 12. The fuel cell interconnect plate assembly of claim 11, wherein said planar body. Is a corrugated body forming the flow deflector on the oxidant side and the fuel side , Fuel cell interconnect plate assembly. 15. In a fuel cell stack, A plurality of batteries, each battery having an anode surface and a cathode surface, Each interconnect plate assembly has an outer periphery, an oxidizer adjacent the cathode side of one of the cells. Plural interconnect plate assemblies comprising a fuel side adjacent to the anode side of another said cell When, The fuel side and the oxidant side having a central region on the fuel side and the oxidant side; A fuel supply conduit having a fuel outlet on each fuel side of the interconnect plate assembly. The fuel supply is such that the fuel outlet is separated from both the central region and the outer periphery on the fuel side. A conductor tube, An oxidant supply wherein the battery and interconnect plate assembly are fluidly coupled to an oxidant side; Defining a region. 16. The fuel cell stack according to claim 15, wherein the fuel supply conductor tube comprises: A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of the fuel outlets. 17． 16. The fuel cell stack according to claim 15, wherein the fuel outlet is located at a central portion. A fuel cell stack disposed approximately halfway between the minute and the outer circumference. 18. 16. The fuel cell stack according to claim 15, wherein the fuel cell stack reacts to a central region on the fuel side. The fuel cell further comprises a conductor tube for collecting reaction products of the fuel cell having a product inlet. Pond stack. 19. The fuel cell stack according to claim 15, wherein an exhaust gas inlet is provided on the oxidant side. A fuel cell stack further comprising an exhaust gas collecting conductor tube. 20. 20. The fuel cell stack according to claim 19, wherein the exhaust gas inlet is on the oxidant side. Fuel cell stack in the central area. 21. 16. The fuel cell stack according to claim 15, wherein the oxidant side is radially oriented. A fuel cell stack with directed flow deflectors. 22. 22. The fuel cell stack according to claim 21, wherein the fuel side is radially oriented. A fuel deflector comprising a defined flow deflector and a rotationally-directed flow deflector. Battery stack. 23. 23. The fuel cell stack according to claim 22, wherein the flow deflector is flexible. A fuel cell stack having an electrical contact surface. 24. The fuel cell stack according to claim 15, wherein the oxidant supply region is: A fuel cell stack comprising a peripheral void area between the cell and the interconnect plate assembly Nebody. 25. 16. The fuel cell stack according to claim 15, wherein the cell comprises a solid oxide. Fuel cell stack, which is a fuel cell. 26. In a fuel cell stack, A plurality of batteries, each battery having an anode surface and a cathode surface, Each interconnect plate assembly has an oxidizer adjacent to the outer periphery, the cathode side of the one cell A plurality of interconnect plate assemblies comprising a fuel side adjacent to an anode side of said another cell. When, The fuel side and the oxidizer side having a central region; A fuel supply conductor tube having a fuel outlet on the fuel side of each of the interconnect plate assemblies; A reaction having a reaction product inlet in a fuel-side central region of each of the interconnect plate assemblies. A product collection conductor tube. 27. 27. The fuel cell stack of claim 26, wherein each of the interconnect plate assemblies. Further comprising an exhaust gas collecting conductor tube having an inlet in the central region on the oxidant side of the fuel. Battery stack. 28. 28. The fuel cell stack of claim 27, wherein the interconnect plate assembly is The fuel side has a radially oriented flow deflector and a rotationally oriented flow deflector. A fuel cell stack comprising: a flow deflector; 29. 29. The fuel cell stack of claim 28, wherein the oxidant side is radial. A fuel cell stack comprising a flow deflector oriented in a direction. 30. 30. The fuel cell stack of claim 29, wherein each of the interconnect plate assemblies. A central region, and a fuel outlet disposed approximately in the middle of the outer periphery, A fuel cell stack further comprising the fuel supply conductor tube of (1). 31. In a sealless fuel cell assembly, A container defining the interior, An oxidant gas supply fluidly coupled to the interior of the container; Gas permeable porous housing contained within the container and defining one interior Wherein the oxidant gas enters the interior through the housing. Zing and A fuel cell stack housed inside a porous housing; and The stack is A plurality of batteries, each battery having an anode surface and a cathode surface, Each interconnect plate assembly is oxidized adjacent to the outer periphery, the cathode surface of the one cell. A plurality of interconnect plate assemblies comprising a fuel side and a fuel side adjacent an anode surface of said another cell Body and The fuel side and the oxidant side having a central region on the fuel side and the oxidant side; A fuel supply conductor tube having a fuel outlet on each fuel side of the interconnect plate assembly; , A reaction product having a reaction product inlet on the fuel side of each of the interconnect plate assemblies. A collecting conductor tube, An exhaust gas recovery conduit having an exhaust gas inlet on each oxidant side of the interconnect plate assembly A sealless fuel cell assembly comprising: a body tube; 32. 32. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 31, wherein the housing and the A fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell stack defines a combustion zone for residual reaction products therebetween. Assembly. 33. 32. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 31, wherein each of the cells has an outer periphery. Wherein the cathode surface has an outer edge separated from the outer periphery, and each of the batteries The outer edge and the outer edge to help prevent material from reacting with the cathode surface. A fuel cell assembly comprising a ring disposed between the fuel cell and an outer periphery. 34. 34. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 33, wherein the ring is a metal ring. A fuel cell assembly. 35. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 31, The fuel supply conductor tube has a central region on the fuel side of each of the interconnect plate assemblies. And having a plurality of fuel outlets separated from the outer periphery; That the reaction product inlet is in a central region on the fuel side, Wherein the exhaust gas inlet is in a central region on the oxidant side. . 36. 32. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 31, wherein the fuel side and the oxidant are provided. A fuel cell assembly, the side comprising a radial flow deflector and a rotational flow deflector . 37. In a sealless fuel cell assembly, A housing defining the interior, An oxidant gas supply fluidly coupled to the interior of the container; A fuel cell stack housed inside the housing; and Body is, A plurality of batteries, each battery having an anode surface and a cathode surface, Each interconnect plate assembly contacts the outer periphery, the cathode side of the one cell, The oxidant side not fixed to the cathode side contacts the anode side of the another battery, A plurality of interconnect plate assemblies having a fuel side not secured to the side; The fuel side and the oxidizer side each have a central area on the fuel side and the oxidizer side. And The fuel cell stack defines an axis of the stack, and the axis of the stack is substantially Flat and the oxidizer side and the fuel side of the interconnect plate assembly are positioned substantially vertically Being done, When the temperature of the fuel cell stack is within about 50 ° C of operating temperature, Means for compressing the battery stack along the axis of the stack. Fuel cell assembly. 38. 38. The sealless fuel cell assembly according to claim 37, wherein the fuel side and An anode contact surface, wherein the oxidant side contacts the anode and cathode surfaces of adjacent cells -Less fuel cell assembly with an elastic flow deflector and a resilient flow deflector having a cathode contact surface body. 39. 39. The sealless fuel cell assembly according to claim 38, wherein the anode contact surface And a sealless fuel cell assembly wherein the cathode contact surface comprises a flexible electrical contact surface. 40. 40. The sealless fuel cell assembly according to claim 39, wherein the anode contact surface And a sealless fuel cell assembly wherein the cathode contact surface comprises silver and gold surfaces, respectively. 41. In a method of operating a fuel cell assembly, A plurality of fuel cells in which a plurality of interconnecting plates alternate in a housing; A fuel cell stack having an interconnect plate having a fuel side and an oxidant side, wherein the stack has an outer periphery. The housing surrounds the outer periphery of the stack, with one area therebetween. Providing a fuel cell stack with a gas permeable porous wall defining an area And Raising the temperature of the stack to a starting temperature; Supplying fuel to the fuel side of the interconnect plate; Flowing oxygen-containing gas through the gas-permeable porous wall to the region; And Removing reaction products from the fuel side; Removing the exhaust gas from the oxidant side. 42. 42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the fueling step comprises interconnecting plates. The fuel into a location separated from the outer periphery of the car and from the central area on the fuel side Done by the method. 43. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the location is substantially from a central region and an outer periphery. A method that is selected to be equidistant. 44. 42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the fueling step comprises: This is done by introducing fuel to a plurality of adjacent locations, each of said locations , Selected to be approximately equidistant from the central region and the outer periphery. 45. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein flowing the gas comprises flowing the gas. The oxygen-containing gas is allowed to flow to a first temperature by flowing through a permeable porous wall. A method comprising the step of heating. 46. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein any residual reactions entering the region from the fuel side. The method further comprising burning the product in the region. 47. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein removing the reaction products comprises: This is done by removing the reaction products from the central area on the fuel side of the interconnect plate. Law. 48. 42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the step of removing exhaust gas comprises the step of: The exhaust gas is removed from a central region on the oxidant side of the method. 49. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the fuel side and the oxidant side are substantially vertically arranged. And the stack is oriented substantially horizontally so that the stack defines a substantially horizontal axis. The method further comprising the step of directing. 50. 50. The method of claim 49, wherein the stack has an operating temperature of about 50C or less. Further comprising the step of allowing the stack to expand substantially freely in the axial direction until How. 51. 52. The method of claim 50, wherein the stack has an operating temperature of less than about 50C. Further comprising the step of: elastically compressing the stack when in range. Method.